Under the effects of global warming, glaciers are changing quickly and significantly. Glacier shrinking has a profound impact on ecosystems, natural hazards, regional water cycles, global sea levels, and ecosystems. Changes in the ice glaciers and the causes causing such changes have been the subject of several research. However, not many studies have shown us how to fix the melting of glaciers.
Previous Solutions For Melting Ice Caps
For years, researchers have been looking for solutions to keep the enormous ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica from melting and dissolving into the ocean as a result of global warming. They have suggested a wide range of potential solutions, such as dumping seawater onto the ice in the hopes that it will freeze and replenish lost ice or seeding the atmosphere with compounds that block sunlight to cool the planet. However, these ideas have been widely criticised for their exorbitant cost, which would be hundreds of billions of dollars a year and the numerous risks involved.
Scientists in the past years have come up with bold new plans for protecting these massive glaciers and preventing the potentially devastating rise in sea levels that would occur if they vanished.
One involves protecting vulnerable glaciers with underwater walls built by robots; the other proposes pumping cold water through vast tunnels bored under the ice to thicken it and keep it from sliding into the ocean. However, none of these plans has been successfully carried out.
The Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) Method
Scientists have now proposed an ambitious and bizarre plan to reverse the ice loss, and that very plan is to refreeze the north and south poles. The study was carried out by Wake Smith of Yale University and published on 15 September 2022 in Environment Research Communications.
At 60 degrees north and south latitudes, the strategy by the lead author suggests that a high-flying aircraft spray tiny aerosol particles into the atmosphere. It is predicted that this will result in a 2-degree Celsius decrease in temperature at the poles. That much cooling will help refreeze the polar extremes –– thereby returning the average temperatures.
The study found that these aerosols would gradually float poleward and significantly shadow the land below –– they were spread out at the height of 43,000 feet. They believe that by providing more shade, the melting arctic might refreeze, reducing the problems associated with melting ice glaciers and rising sea levels. According to the scientists, the approach would slow climate change by reflecting a small portion of the incoming solar radiation back into space. However, it does come at an enormous cost. This method is known as the stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which comes at a price of 11 billion USD annually.
The researchers have admitted to this idea being controversial and asserted that it is achievable as 11 billion USD is extraordinarily cheap compared to other climate solutions proposed, like carbon capture. Just like every proposal has its benefits, a few drawbacks follow it. Global warming-related emissions would be produced by the aircraft. The aerosol also contains sulphur dioxide, which, at high concentrations, corrodes the lungs and airways and causes nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. As the concept is still in its preliminary stage, the researchers believe the vision assures exploration.
10 Oct 2022
Arya Zade
